For Soony Saad, the decision on where to spend his final club season was a pretty simple one. It wasn’t so much about location or team, but it was all about ties.

Saad is tied to the Derby County Wolves dating back to his U12 days where he started playing with the club until jumping over to Vardar prior to his first U15/U16 season in the USSF Development Academy.

The relationships he’s built and maintained over that span is the driving factor behind his decision to rejoin the Wolves for the upcoming U17/U18 Academy season.

“There are certain players that I just really wanted to play with again,” Saad said. “Guys like Josh Gatt, Jordan Tyler, Reed Losee, Nathan Hicklin … it was just about wanting to play with old friends again. If those guys were playing on Vardar this year than I would be playing for them, to be honest. I actually loved Vardar – the club was great and the coaches were the best, but I’m happy to be back playing with the Wolves.”

The last time Saad suited up for the Wolves he helped the club win a US Youth Soccer national title against PDA. Obviously a lot has changed since then. Saad would leave for Vardar the next year where he spent a year and a half, his second season interrupted when he left for an eight-month stint in U.S. U17 residency.

Most recently, Saad was a member of the Discover Europe™ team that went undefeated during a four-country tour through Europe. Saad was the leading goal scorer on an elite group that included teammates Kelyn Rowe, Miles Byass, Zachery Barnes, Kovi Konowiecki and Harrison Petts. So a lot has changed since Saad, heading to Michigan next season, last donned the Derby County colors, but things will surely feel familiar.

“I’ve had some great experiences the last few years,” Saad said. “Residency was great being able to train everyday in a great environment. I feel like I’m coming back as a much better player than I was a few years ago.”

Saad is a very natural goal scorer up top who can strike the ball accurately from a variety of angles and has a quick release. He instantly makes any team he’s a part of much more potent on the attack, and the same will be said for the Wolves who already have a throng of talent.

While the U15/16 Derby County team is the defending Academy National champions, the U17/18 edition has some unfinished business after having been upset during the Academy Playoffs. Saad is looking forward to trying to bring a title back to Michigan.

“We’re playing to win a more prestigious trophy and the competition is a lot better since the last time I played with the team,” Saad said. “I definitely want to win a title. It would be great to do it with these teammates.”